sleppy

So this is more of a canon divergence than an au and the inciting moment would be thonolans death, which doesn't happen. Instead jondalar gets mauled to death (and my two criticisms are gone, goodbye tallboy mcschlong)

So now we have thonolan, who is already at rock bottom because he lost the love of his life and their child, and who believes his suicidal recklessness has caused his brothers death. He is NOT doing well, but is now also terrified of causing others harm and has very bad survivors guilt.

He is saved by this very young woman, living all by herself, which is a recipe for disaster, one broken leg and she'll starve too death, so he latches on hard. He has to get her to the next closest people. He (in his guilt believes that he has) killed his brother and he has to atone, he can under no circumstances have anyone else die because of him.

So thonolan proceeds to learn sign language, teaches Ayla his language, they go looking for people.

Now Ayla on the other hand notices that this guy is incredibly depressed and needs help ASAP.

So when they reach the mammoth clan and she realizes this are not his people she decides she must see her new friend home to his family, were he'll be best supported.

And so their whacky adventure across the continent starts.