Chapter 25 Summary

After the night of the ceremony, the gathering is over. Brun's Clan makes their preparations to depart. On the day of their departure, Broud makes his rounds to the other Clans, saying his farewells to the other men. He is angered by the fact that Ayla has once again stolen his show, because hers is the name on everyone's lips, not his.

When they return to the cave, Ayla finds Iza much sicker than when she'd left. She throws herself wholeheartedly into the task of trying to cure Iza, trying every remedy she knows, not leaving Iza's side for a moment. However, soon after, Iza walks with the spirits. Before she dies, she draws Ayla close to her. She tells Ayla that when Broud is leader, Ayla must leave the Clan to seek out her own people, the Others. These are Iza's last...