#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In this the extraordinary conclusion of the ice-age epic series
Earth's Children(R) Ayla Jondalar and their infant daughter Jonayla are living with the
Zelandonii in the Ninth Cave. Ayla has been chosen as an acolyte to a spiritual leader and
begins arduous training tasks. Whatever obstacles she faces Ayla finds inventive ways to
lessen the difficulties of daily life searching for wild edibles to make meals and
experimenting with techniques to ease the long journeys the Zelandonii must take while honing
her skills as a healer and a leader. And there are the Sacred Caves that Ayla's mentor takes
her to see. They are filled with remarkable paintings of mammoths lions and bears and their
mystical aura at times overwhelms Ayla. But all the time Ayla has spent in training rituals has
caused Jondalar to drift away from her. The rituals themselves bring her close to death but
through them Ayla gains A Gift of Knowledge so important that it will change her world. Sixth
in the acclaimed Earth's Children(R) series
