Ayla and Jondalar have reached home: the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, the old stone age settlement in the region known today as south-west France. Jondalar's family are initially wary of the beautiful young woman he has brought back. After the rigours and dangers that have characterised her life, Ayla yearns for peace and tranquillity.

Forced to leave the Clan and her young son, Ayla sets out to travel the frigid steppes until she finds the valley of horses. Unable to find people like herself, the Cro-Magnons, she settles there and seeks friendship. Far to the west, two young Cro-Magnon brothers have begun a journey. One of them is Jondalar, whose destiny is bound with Ayla's.

Ayla and Jondalar embark on a journey across an entire continent. Their goal is the Cro-Magnon settlement in southern France, where he lived as a young man. Accompanied by the Wolf, the stallion, Racer, and the mare, Whinney, they brave savage enemies and the dangers of weather and terrain in their search for the place that will become Home.

Leaving the valley of horses with Jondalar, the handsome man she loves, Ayla embarks on a journey that will lead her to the Mamutoi. But as she settles into this new life among a people disturbingly different, she finds herself drawn to Ranec, their master-carver. She is compelled to make a fateful choice between the two men.

Ayla is a young woman brought up by the Clan. Ayla is cared for by the Clan's medicine woman Iza and its wise holy man Creb. Iza teaches her how to find food and the healing skills. She does not always obey the Clan's rules and so she makes an enemy of the group's future leader. Broud will do all he can to destroy her, but Ayla is a survivor.

Many discoveries have shed light on the Ice Age giants that disappeared from the earth. Their remains are to be found in most parts of the world. This title includes the research and features discoveries from California to Siberia featuring various illustrations and photographs.