Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel

did not dislike him, but Jondalar acted so strangely around him. It was a smaller hearth, though, with only two men and took less space in the longhouse so she felt closer to Nezzie and Talut, at the second hearth, and to Rydag. She liked the other children of Talut’s Lion Hearth, too, Latie and Rugie, Nezzie’s younger daughter, close in age to Rydag. Now that she’d met Danug, she liked him, too.
    Talut approached with the big woman. Barzec and the children were with them and Ayla assumed they were mated.
    “Ayla, I would like you to meet my sister, Tulie of the Aurochs Hearth, headwoman of the Lion Camp.”
    “Greetings,” the woman said, holding out both hands in the formal way. “In Mut’s name, I welcome you.” As sister to the headman she was his equal, and conscious of her responsibilities.
    “I greet you, Tulie,” Ayla replied, trying not to stare.
    The first time Jondalar was able to stand, it had been a shock to discover that he was taller than she was, but to see a woman who was taller was even more surprising. Ayla had always towered over everyone in the Clan. But the headwoman was more than tall, she was muscular and powerful-looking. The only one who exceeded her in size was her brother. She carried herself with the presence that only sheer height and mass can convey, and the undeniable self-assurance of awoman, mother, and leader completely confident and in control of her life.
    Tulie wondered about the visitor’s strange accent, but another problem concerned her more, and with the directness typical of her people, she did not hesitate to bring it up.
    “I didn’t know the Mammoth Hearth would be occupied when I invited Branag to return with us. He and Deegie will be joined this summer. He will only stay a few days, and I know she had hoped they could spend those days off by themselves a little, away from her brothers and sister. Since you are a guest, she would not ask, but Deegie would like to stay at the Mammoth Hearth with Branag, if you do not object.”
    “Is large hearth. Many beds. I do not object,” Ayla said, feeling uncomfortable to be asked. It wasn’t her home.
    As they were talking, a young woman came out of the earthlodge, followed by a young man. Ayla looked twice. She was close to Ayla’s age, stocky and a fraction taller! She had deep chestnut hair and a friendly face that many would have said was pretty, and it was evident that the young man with her thought she was quite attractive. But Ayla wasn’t paying much attention to her physical appearance, she was staring with awe at the young woman’s clothing.
    She was dressed in leggings, and a tunic of leather of a color that almost matched her hair—a long, profusely decorated, dark ochre red tunic that opened in front, belted to hold it closed. Red was a color sacred to the Clan. Iza’s pouch was the only object Ayla owned that had been dyed red. It held the special roots used to make the drink for the special ceremonies. She still had it, carefully tucked away in her medicine bag in which she carried various dried herbs used in the healing magic. A whole tunic made of red leather? It was hard to believe.
    “It is so beautiful!” Ayla said, even before she could be properly introduced.
    “Do you like it? It’s for my Matrimonial, when we are joined. Branag’s mother gave it to me, and I just had to put it on to show everyone.”
    “I not ever see anything like it!” Ayla said, her eyes open wide.
    The young woman was delighted. “You’re the one called Ayla, aren’t you? My name is Deegie, and this is Branag. He has to go back in a few days,” she said, looking disappointed,“but after next summer we’ll be together. We’re going to move in with my brother, Tarneg. He’s living with his woman and her family now, but he wants to set up a new Camp and he’s been after me to take a mate so he’ll have a headwoman.”
    Ayla saw Tulie smiling and nodding at her daughter and remembered the request. “Hearth