By mid-morning the rain eased

By mid-morning the rain eased to a dreary drizzle and by afternoon stopped altogether. A wan, tired sun broke through the solid cloud cover, but did little to warm or dry the drenched earth. Despite the dismal weather and sparse fare, the clan was excited by so notable an occasion for a feast. A change in leadirship was rare enough, but a new mog-ur at the same time made it exceptional. Orga and Ebra would have a part to play in the ceremony, and brac as well. The seven year old would be the next heir apparent.
Oga was a tight bundle of stretched nerves. She jumped up to cheek every fireplace where food was cooking every other moment. Ebre tried to calm her, but Ebra wasn’t so settled herself. Trying to seem more grown-up, Brac was issuing commands to the small children and busy women. Brun finally stepped in and called him off to the side to practise his part once more. Uba took the children to Vorn’s hearth to get them out of the way, and after most of the preparations were completed, Ayla joined her. Aside from helping , Ayla’s only role would be to make datura for the men since Creb had told her not to make the drink from the roots.
By evening, only a few wisps of clouds remained to dart fitfully before the full moon that lit the bare, lifeless landscape. Inside the cave , a large fire burned in a space behind the last hearth, defined by a circle of torches.
From the book ‘The clan of the cave bear’ by Jean M. Auel