Chapter 9- No Time To Lose

Yahnnah had no choice but to scream, it was the quickest way to stop the other clan members before they were out of  earshot.

Before turning around, each member had sprung into action, immediately breaking off into two groups.  The more able bodied individuals with spears poised and moving with lethal speed, took up strategic positions surrounding the second group, mostly children who huddled together.

All expected to see Yahnna being pursued by a formidable predator, a cave lion... ursus... or a pack of wolves.   When they saw nothing in pursuit, they lowered their weapons and allowed the hairs at the nape of their neck to relax.   Half of the first group ran out to meet their Shaman who was running towards them, and even though her lips were tightly pursed, a silent scream remained etched on her face.  It was out of character for their leader to break one of Ayah's golden rules and in the case of a scream, only a life threatening danger could justify the breach.  Whatever it could be, all were certain that danger was imminent... lurking somewhere.

As those running toward her gathered around, Yahnnah signed first in bold  gestures, giving instruction to the others still huddled together in the distance-- they were to continue moving along with the journey.

Turning to the others now before her, Yahnnah's gnarled hands formed intricate signs with such precision that even before she had finished, Atahr, having understood enough, was already quickly on the way, heading back down the slope .  Quickly Yahnna instructed a few of those gathered to follow him,  and then turning to the two fleetest scouts, she instructed them to run ahead of the first group w to Ursa Majorica,  their original   destination where other Clans were gathered.  They were to enlist  tribal warriors who would swiftly make their way to Ursa Minorica.

It was mostly down hill and so Atahr and those following him made good time.  Atahr was the first to reach the small clearing where they had camped the night before.   He ran to very spot where earlier that morning Jayah had parted into the wood.  There was no obvious trail where she had entered and nor was there any indication that she had retraced her steps, but this didn't mean much considering her exceptional stealth and skill at passing through woodlands without leaving a trace.  Atahr circled the outer perimeter of the encampment until he found what he was looking for ... and dreading.  It was a wide blazing trail, not in the direction where the clan had left... and yet it was the kind of trail left by predators when in hot pursuit of prey.  Still, it wasn't headed south toward the sea and to Ursa Minorica, the small outcrop of land where Yahnna claimed Jayah was headed.  This gave Atahr hope... he wanted so much to believe that Yahnna had been wrong!

Atahr knew in his heart and mind that Jayah would indeed do the very thing that Yahnna now feared was the case.  He knew that the only reason his beloved mate would use herself as bait and so leave forever those she loved most in the world, would be that her death and the death of their unborn child was inevitable.   In such a case, Atahr knew that Jayah would choose to use her last breath protecting the ones she loved most.

Within moments and as the others and then Yahnna arrived at the encampment, they found Atahr in state of euphoric, almost giddy relief.  "You see Yahnna", he rushed to her side signing and pointing to the trail , "it veers to the east and not the south... the Bahr-Bahr hunters simply gave up the hunt ... it must have been the  smoke... and fearing that a change of wind would bring fire upon them."

“THINK Atahr,” Yahnna issued hermost commanding stance, her arms, hands and fingers signing in bold of gestures, "Jayah would not have gone the shorter route to the south because it's not the fastest"!  Atahr's face paled immediately, knowing   that she was right... Jayah was headed toward a section of forest that was longer, but much easier to traverse, a section that eventually veered southwest until she could emerge onto the beach  near the western face of Ursus Minorica.  

It took everything for Yahnna to hold on to Atahr as he drug her along in his attempt to dash madly down the trail.  Following her lead those nearby pulled him to a stop, where Yahnna then barring his way could gain his attention and attempt to rationalize with the distraught young man.

Atahr fought to loose himself and when he realized it was impossible he focussed on what Yahnna was trying so hard to convey.  "Atahr... there is just one thing  everyone needs to be aware of before you follow the trail", she beckoned the others to gather for her instruction.  "As the trail opens beyond the trees and before it  approaches the shore, it will pass through a swath of low lying shrub that MUST be avoided even though circling around will cost time.  Each shrub is equipped with small seemingly innocent thorns, but even the slightest scratch transmits a powerful serum that will cause a delayed reaction, one that will leave your flesh burning as though on fire, and it will continue to work slowly into your system until your legs are numb and unable to move... a temporary paralysis that could   delay everything... saving Jayah's life if indeed still possible, and it could result in being the end of us if the Bahr-Bahr were smart enough to avoid the peril.   She looked into Atahr's eyes for a sign of acknowledgement before motioning for his release.  Atahr was off in a flash, not looking back to see that Yahnna had given the command for the others to follow.

Atahr  was still in the wood, running well ahead of the others when he heard the tell-tale low rumble followed almost immediately  by  an ear shattering CRACK!!

When Atahr finally came to the beach, his eyes caught sight of the outcrop.  There was no one  ... no Jayah and no Bahr-Bahr hunter anywhere to be seen.  To  Atahr, this could mean only one thing if indeed Jayah's dream had been a vision of the future... one that was unfolding at this very moment.  He, as with each of his Clan members, were aware of the rock slide on the outcrops eastern side that made it more accessible... it would be the only way that the Bahr-Bahr who were not adept at climbing, could make it to the top... and as Jayah's vision had revealed, at least one had done just that.

"It could be" Atahr thought to himself, "that the Bahr-Bahr have just arrived to the other side ... and perhaps they haven't yet started their ascent".   It was a slim hope that he clung to as though it were a fact that would enable him to intercept the attack and save Jayah.  He quickly assessed the situation. The quickest route was to make a bee-line across the beach that led to the section of the outcrop nearest him... to a section of cliff that was the shortest route up, but was also the most perilous.  Atahr ran to it as though his life depended on it... and to him, it did.   The threat of even more lightning... or testing fate by breaking one of Ayah's golden rules didn't matter to him.  He didn't bother to look at the sky for any of the signs,  all that mattered at the moment was getting to Jayah with no time to lose.

Chapter 8: A Scream

At one point Yahnna became concerned that the clan had been moving slower than what they were capable, and she knew the reason.  Their hearts and minds were heavy with remorse at having left Jayah behind, and even though the reason was valid and she had the authority to make the call,  they were  simply overwhelmed with worry for the young leader they had come to love and respect.   Their slowed pace was worrisome enough that Yahnna sent out two of their fleetest scouts, and only when they returned and with reports indicating no sign of the Bahr-Bahr hunters who had been in hot pursuit the day before, did she relax.  There was no need to pick up the pace.

And now, with the recollection of Jayah's dream,  Yahnna allowed  her mind to focus on some of the finer details of the past two days. There was the time she had brought Jayah water, and for a moment  had detected her young acolyte wince with pain.  It was fleeting, and Jayah had been so quick to offer a reassuring smile that Yahnna had thought no more of it.  After all, it wasn't her time yet and nor was there any indication that the baby would be early.   But that was then, and now she realized that there had been other signs  --the flushed cheeks and fine beads of sweat that Jayah periodically wiped from her upper lip.  Yahnna was now aware that Jayah had been experiencing the early signs of labor, and that she had gone to great extreme in order to keep it secret.

Jayah’s life was in danger… two days of labour was well beyond the usual time allotted for clans women.  As Yahnna dwelled on the matter, she had come to know what Jayah herself would have known, that there was something wrong with her pregnancy.   Most births among Clans women were uneventful -- relatively quick and easy, but every now and then Ayah would see fit to take both mother and child in a brutal death.  There was nothing that anyone could do during these times… it was a helpless situation, a womb that could not bring forth the child, would bring death to both mother and child.  The entire Clan would suffer during these trying times… it tore them apart to see their own suffer and die.

The Bahr-Bahr hunters no longer  pursuing them was further evidence pointing to the truth.  Jayah was the reason why their scouts hadn't detected the Bahr-Bahr.  Yahnna knew that Jayah would have weighed out the situation.... and  believing that she and her unborn child were as good as dead, she would use her last breath too ensure the safety of her clan… but mostly for Zahr, Atahr and Yahnna herself.

Yahnna regarded Jayah as a daughter… she knew how she thought, how she loved and lived, and it was then that she realized without a doubt, that Jayah would have regarded her inevitable death as an opportunity to lure the Bahr-Bahr off the trail of the clan.  It was then that Yahnna began to run... run toward Atahr with fear and dread written on her age lined face.  There was no time to waste, and that is why she resorted to all but shatter one of Ayah's golden rules, with a scream.