central to this book is the tension created by ayla's healing art, her pregnancy, and the acceptance of her by jondalar's people, the zelandonii. ayla was raised by clan neanderthals, known as "flatheads" to the zelandonii and viewed as no better than animals. for the zelandonii to accept ayla they must first overcome their prejudice against the neanderthals. luckily for ayla and jondalar, some of the higher-ranking zelandonii already have doubts of this misjudgment.