When women wore furs and men had brow ridges

Set In a continuing Pleistocene World on the Mammoth Steppes of Eurasia where the last ice age never ended. Homo Sapiens co-exists with Neanderthals and Denisovans and the ice age mega fauna 

Diana - Born after Marya is seduced by Anton while in a trance in the crystal cavern -- Her unique nature becomes tied to the migration patterns themselves. Perhaps her silver markings correspond to the sacred geography they traverse. As she grows, she begins to intuitively understand which routes to take and when, sensing changes in the land before others can.

The Crystal Caves - A winter refuge where geothermal activity creates warmth and the sacred waters hold their mysteries. This becomes one node in their migratory circuit rather than a permanent settlement.

The Forgotten Valley - A spring/summer location where the meteorite impact created unique conditions for plants and herbs to grow. This could be where Marya and Agnes practice their healing arts.

The Coastal Haven - An autumn gathering place where multiple nomadic groups converge for trade, knowledge exchange, and cultural celebrations before winter's return.

This migration pattern connects beautifully to the existing concept of "the waters remember." Each sacred water source along their route could hold different memories and properties, creating a network of power points across the landscape that Diana gradually learns to understand.

Marya and Agnes - As traveling healers, they maintain their role as keepers of knowledge but in a more practical form. They gather rare plants during migrations, preserve healing traditions, and serve multiple communities. Their healing practice combines practical medicine with deeper understanding of the land's mystical properties.

Anselm - His role as protector becomes even more vital in a nomadic setting. He could be a former warrior from another tribe who now guides and guards their caravan. His military background would give him knowledge of different territories and peoples across the mammoth steppe.

Anton - He could represent a competing philosophy about how humans should live in this ice age world. Perhaps he leads a settlement that attempts to control nature rather than move with its rhythms—damming rivers, clearing land, establishing permanent structures. This creates a philosophical conflict that parallels your existing themes about knowledge and power.

The Semi-Nomadic Culture

This culture would have several distinctive features that could enrich your story:

Seasonal Knowledge - Different types of wisdom become accessible at different points in the migration circuit. Some rituals can only be performed at specific sites, creating natural story beats as the community travels.

Megafauna Relationships - Your nomadic group could have symbiotic relationships with ice age creatures. Perhaps they travel alongside woolly mammoth herds, providing protection from predators while the mammoths help clear paths through snow and provide resources.

Memory Keepers - Instead of a monastery library, knowledge is preserved through oral tradition, memory techniques, and portable artifacts. The most sacred texts might be inscribed on mammoth ivory or preserved in special carrying cases made from rare materials.

Ritual Markers - The landscape itself becomes a text to be read—certain rock formations, unusual trees, or fossil beds mark important points along the migration route. These natural features have stories attached to them that are retold when the group passes by.

Plot Development

The core conflict with Anton remains powerful in this setting, with some adjustments:

Initial Conflict - Anton's group begins disrupting traditional migration routes—perhaps damming a river that feeds a sacred spring or establishing permanent settlements at key points along the nomadic circuit.

Rising Tension - Diana discovers that her markings respond differently at different points on their route. Her powers grow stronger at certain sacred sites, leading her to realize she must complete the full migration circuit to fully understand her abilities.

Midpoint Revelation - During their journey to the Crystal Caves for winter, the group discovers that Anton has already claimed this traditional refuge, forcing them to winter in an unprotected area. This direct threat accelerates Diana's development.

Climactic Confrontation - The final battle still takes place in the Crystal Caves, but now it represents a fight to reclaim not just knowledge but the community's way of life and their relationship with the natural world.

Harmony vs. Control - The nomadic lifestyle represents adaptation to natural rhythms, while Anton's approach embodies the desire to control and reshape the environment.

Distributed vs. Centralized Knowledge - the nomadic healers represent knowledge that belongs to no single place but flows through the landscape like water. Anton's academic approach seeks to collect and control this wisdom in one location.

Memory and Landscape - "The waters remember" concept expands to the idea that the entire landscape holds memory—migration routes preserved for generations, seasonal changes that follow ancient patterns.