The Clan of the Cave Bear

With the next Clan Gathering only two years away, Brun prepares for a mammoth hunt so they can stockpile food. After discussion, it’s decided that Zoug, Dorv, and Creb will remain behind to protect the cave, while all the hunters, along with a select group of women, will travel north for the hunt. Despite Broud’s objections, Ayla is chosen to go. Iza gives her a medicine bag of her own.

The group travels northward until they find a herd of mammoths. The men use fire and torches to drive a pregnant female mammoth into the canyon. There, Broud and Goov hamstring her, and Crug, Brun, Grod, and Droog finish the kill with spears. The successful hunt is seen as a sign of good fortune, and the hunters celebrate. The women are then called to butcher and prepare the vast amounts of meat, fat, and hide, which gathers scavengers to the site.

Brac, Oga’s son, is dragged away by a hyena. Ayla reacts, using her sling to kill the hyena and save Brac. Though Oga gratefully takes her child back, the camp is silent. Brun knows Ayla has broken a fundamental Clan law, one that is punishable by death, but she also saved Brac’s life.