Okay, sorry this has taken so long, but I haven't exactly been well the last few months and believe me when I say this is about the first opportunity I've had to add to this for a while. No idea when the next installment may be coming, but please stay tuned and hopefully I'll be able to get something more out there soon.

Then, that part of her story behind her and the audience apparently primed for more, Madenia began to consider once more how to proceed.

In the end, she found that the only way she knew to go on was the same way she'd begun; she simply picked a point in time and a subject that she thought these people would want to hear about and began to speak.

"After Ayla and Jondalar leave, I… very not happy again for a while; I miss them. I not as sad as before, though, and get over soon. Not long after, we have Summer Meeting and I… have First Rites. Not easy; part of me still afraid and think about Charoli and other men. But thinking about Ayla and Jondalar instead get me through and man chosen by Losadunai… well, he not Jondalar but I think he next best thing. Make me feel very … not scared? Very not scared before and very special after. I still grateful and we still good friends."

She paused here, collecting her thoughts once more and then continued with, "I not see Ayla and Jondalar since they leave but as I say before I hear stories from travelers."

The assembled Camp perked up at this statement, obviously anticipating any news about their long-departed kinswoman and her mate. Madenia paused slightly for effect then, letting the anticipation build slightly as Losaduna had trained her before continuing.

"They make it back over glacier safely I hear and all the way back to Ninth Cave of Zelandoni. They mate and settle there with Jondalar's family and, from what I hear, Ayla Blessed again when they arrive!"

This brought several exclamations of surprise and joy from the crowd and once it had died down Madenia continued with, "She give birth to healthy daughter, I hear, and everything okay with new family. I also hear that Ayla training with Zelandonii, like Mammoth Hearth or Losadunai; she maybe going to be One Who Serve!"

This brought a few "Oh's!" and "Ah's" from the crowd, though Madenia noticed not from the old Mamut who only nodded sagely at her pronouncement; apparently it came as no shock to him that Ayla seemed to be on the path of Those Who Serve…

Picking up her narrative once more, Madenia said, "That all I really know about Ayla and Jondalar; I not see again after they leave, only hear stories. But someday I want Journey west instead of east; I want to see them again and now I can give them news about friends and family they not see for long time."

Madenia paused here again and looked to Talut, feeling that perhaps she'd said enough for the time being and should pass the center of attention on to someone else. But the look on Talut's face said that he and Lion Camp would be having none of that and aloud he said, "I'm sure that Ayla and Jondalar would be grateful for anything you might be able to tell them about us. We're certainly grateful for what you've told us! But I think what you've said so far is really just the prelude; we still don't know how you've come to be here or where you acquired that rather handsome mare you brought with you. I think those would be tales worth hearing, don't you think so everyone?"

Talut's call to the crowd was answered by a chorus of affirmative answers and Madenia realized with an odd mixture of shyness and anticipation that her foray into story-telling wasn't over yet. After pondering and taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she continued.

"Well, I guess I tell about Shadow first… It start three year ago when I go with hunting party on trip out to steppes. It one of first real hunts I go on, I only fourteen years then, but it turn out to be one of biggest things I ever do, I guess… We stalking small herd of aurochs, not horse if you wonder, and then find something… out of place. First we find signs of struggle, chase; look like pack of wolves chase down some hoofed animal, maybe horse or onager. We not follow trail far until we find what left of carcass, look like horse but not much left to tell."

She paused for a moment here both for effect and to gather her thoughts and then said, "We also find more tracks, smaller ones around carcass and on top of wolf tracks, like they made after wolves done with kill. It not hard to figure out tracks made by baby animal, probably baby of animal wolves kill. How it not get caught by wolves we not able to figure but tracks say it come after they gone, looking for mother we think. That seem sad to me, baby animal looking for mother and finding only bones and scraps."

There were a number of sympathetic comments from the audience at this, telling Madenia that she'd managed to convey the proper impression and then she continued with, "Others just see this as practice tracking; they not think much of it. Wolves kill horses and onagers all the time so what big deal, right? But I not think that way; I not able to get little lost horse out of head. I keep wondering where it at now and what it do with mother dead; I wonder if it even still alive or maybe already eaten by wolves too. And more I think more I want to do something… I guess it because of Ayla and horses that idea come to me but I remember how she say she find Whinney and raise after killing her mother for food. I think then that if I can find little horse maybe I can take too, raise like Ayla did…"

Madenia paused once more, gauging the reactions and found her audience rapt; obviously they wanted to hear what came next even if they could already guess everything but the details. After a few moments she continued with, "Others think I strange for trying to track down baby horse; think I wasting time. But I not stop when they say this, I just go on tracking. It take me long time, most of day to follow trail but little horse really not that far away when I find. She not want to go far from mother, I think, only make long, winding trail around carcass, probably try to keep away from wolves. I finally see from distance but she scared, run away. I not chase, not want make her run farther but then have to think how to get close. Finally I remember something Ayla say about when she find Whinney, something about getting mother's smell on her and that… fooling little horse into trusting her at least a little. I backtrack then, go back to carcass, find some dung and other things and rub on self. Then I go back where I find baby horse and track down again; by now it almost dark."

She paused here once more, gathering her thoughts and then continued with, "I come around from upwind this time; I want make sure baby horse catch smell. This seem work; she perk up, sniff air and not act scared, more… interested instead. I give her little time then start to move toward. I not bore with all details but I eventually reach horse, not scare her away. I guess smell familiar enough to her and with nothing else to do she come with me when I… coax? Coax her."

Madenia paused for just a beat and, grinning continued with, "It take until late at night to get back to camp and everyone worried when I get there but the looks on faces! That make it worth it! Baby horse probably last thing they expect to see, following me like small child!"

Madenia's audience chuckled appreciatively at this, the mental image clear to them and their own recollections of the arrival of both Ayla's horses and Latie's Amber fresh in their minds.

"After that, not so much to tell," Madenia added once the audience had settled down again. "I take horse back to cave even if others think I… more than little bit strange. And when we get back to Cave… well, I not think I need to tell. But since everyone seen Whiney and Racer, they get over surprise pretty quick."

Madenia paused for a moment before continuing with, "I name horse Shadow because of color, and I raise her like Ayla say she raise Whiney and Racer. Leaders of Cave not sure this good idea at first, but Losaduna speak for me, tell them it maybe good… practice for me. This good enough for them and when Shadow bigger, can do more work, they not unhappy at all. Shadow big help to me and to whole Cave." And then, glancing toward the drape to the horse annex, she added, "But I guess you already know that."

Then, knowing that everyone wanted to hear more, wanted to hear what had brought both Madenia and Shadow to the lands of the Mamutoi, Madenia made a quick decision that she hoped would be received in the proper spirit. Figuring that she'd said enough for at least a little while and realizing that there was someone else who had a story to tell, she said, "I know you want hear how I get here but there somebody else who need say same thing and I think it her turn now. I say more when she done if you still want hear."

Then, turning slightly she directed an expectant look toward the only other stranger in the room and said expectantly, "Joanne?"